Born into a family of vegetarians I am totally clueless about the flavors of meat of any kind and hence I used to wonder what makes people to have cravings for meat. So I have been looking for vegetable substitutes for meat, and then started trying out the most popular meat-based recipes like biryani, kebab, kurma, etc. using those vegetable substitutes. Earlier I used fleshy soy meat for making biryani. Lately, I came to know that raw jackfruit is a better substitute than textured soya for its fibrous meat-like texture and mildly sweet flavour, and I have tried jackfruit biryani.

When raw jackfruit is cut into large chunks and used along with flavorful spices, it is almost impossible to differentiate the meat & raw jackfruit even by the die-hard meat lovers. Hence it is largely beneficial to people who switched to vegan diet to satisfy their cravings for meat.

Raw jackfruit Vs meat:
- Raw jackfruit is an inexpensive produce that can be used to replace almost any type of meat.
- It is super easy & super fast to cook this vegetable compared to meat.
- Since raw jackfruit recipes have less calories compared to meat recipes, it is useful for people on the weight-loss diet.
- Raw jackfruits are easily digestible than meat.
- It is a lot more easier & cheaper to grow jackfruit trees than raising livestock in a farm.

Jackfruit biryani (palakkai biryani) recipe:
Ingredients:
- Basmati rice – 1 cup
- Water – 2 cups (400 ml)
- Any neutral oil – ¼ cup (50 ml)
- Bay leaf – 1 No.
- Star anise – 1 No.
- Cashew nuts (mundhri) – 15 Nos.
- Raisins (dhratchai) – 25 Nos.
- Onion – 1 No. (large)
- Tomatoes – 2 Nos.
- Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
- Red chilli powder – 1 tsp (I used Kashmiri chilli powder here for its vibrant red color)
- Salt – 1 tsp
For marinade:
- Raw jackfruit (palakkai) – 1 No. (small)
- Red chilli powder – ½ tsp
- Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
- Salt – ¼ tsp
- Lemon juice – 1 tsp
For biryani masala:
- Cinnamon stick (pattai) – ½” piece
- Cloves (krambu) – 6 Nos.
- Green cardamom (yelakkai) – 2 Nos.
- Ginger – 1″ piece
- Garlic – 10 Nos.
- Shallots (sambar vengayam) – 20 Nos.
- Mint leaves – a handful

Mise en place:
- Peel the skin of raw jackfruit and chop roughly into large chunks.
- Sprinkle chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and lemon juice over the jackfruit pieces.
- Toss them together and set aside for at least 30 min until marinated.

- Wash rice & soak in 400 ml of water and set aside.
- Slice onion lengthwise & dice tomatoes.

- Grind all ingredients for biryani masala into a smooth paste without adding water.

How to prepare jackfruit biryani:
- Heat a heavy bottom pressure cooker with oil in medium flame.
- Add bay leaf & cinnamon stick and fry for 5 seconds.
- Add sliced onion, cashew nuts and raisins.
- Sauté until onion slices turn translucent.
- Add turmeric powder & red chilli powder and fry for 10 seconds.
- Add diced tomatoes and ground masala together.#
- Add salt (¼ tsp) and sauté until they turn mushy & oil begins to ooze out.
- Now add marinated chunks & salt (¼ tsp) and sauté until they are soft & infused with masala.
- Pour water used for soaking into the cooker and bring it to a boil in high flame.
- Add soaked rice and salt (½ tsp).
- Close the pressure cooker and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- When the pressure is released, pour (1 tsp) of ghee over the cooked rice and close the cooker for 5 min allowing the aroma of ghee nicely permeated into biryani.
- Mix gently with a wooden spatula.
- Transfer to a hot casserole.
- Serve spicy juicy biryani with raitha.

#If we add tomatoes & ground masala (like ginger-garlic paste) together, the moisture in tomatoes prevents the masala stick to the pan.
Jack fruit I have plenty in my garden
Oh, you are lucky! Thanks much for stopping by.
You are welcome. It is my pleasure
Yum yum?
Thank you so much.
This looks so delicious! I’m always looking fr new vegetarian recipes to add to my repertoire, so your blog is an amazing find!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Keep on posting veg recipes. It’s truly healthy and mouth watering
Thanks so much for encouraging words.
Do you think I could use canned jackfruit? I love jackfruit as a meat sub!
I think you can, it might affect the taste marginally but definitely not the texture. Thank you.
Megala, I have also heard soya chunks substitute meat but jack fruit is totally new.
Yes, do try sometime. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I love Biriyani! 😀
My uncle has many jackfruit trees heheh 🙂
This looks so yummy!
Your posts are very detailed and step-to-step, keep it up Ms Megala 🙂
Thanks, Doni, for your kind appreciation. 🙂
My pleasure, Ms Megala 🙂
same here… I have only little idea why people crave meats. Sometimes, I even feel strange when I smell meats while eating with other friends… Is it normal that a vegetarian is not used to the smell of meats and animal products? it doesn’t bother me too much… only sometimes.
Glad that you could resonate with me. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by.
Thank you for nice recipes!
I enjoy reading your posts and (more often) cooking in your recipes. ^^
I’m doubly delighted, thanks a ton!
I have never heard or ever seen a Jackfruit :0 Thanks so much once again for so more information that I will read up on 🙂
I wish you could stumble upon this delicious fruit sometime soon. 🙂 Thank you.
Awww thank you Megala I hope so too. 🙂
Hi Megala, raw jackfruit as meat substitute is something new I’ve learnt today! Will definitely try and let you know!
Glad to hear this, thank you.
This looks delicious 🙂 My mum used to make jackfruit curry and we loved it.
Oh, nice to hear this. Thank you.
Meghana loved it. looks drooling 🙂 :yum:
Thank you. 🙂
WOw, great informative post. Good to know the usage of Jack fruit in place of meat.Nicely done!!!
Thank you.
jackfruit has some seeds inside them, how about them? Are they thrown out?
Young jackfruits have tender seeds, so we don’t have to remove their seeds or fibers, they all combine together to form the texture similar to meat. Hope you would get a chance to try this. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I’ll surely try. I didn’t know it can replace meat. We always take it as a fruit here and that’s all.
Do you have a recipe for chicken biryani? ☺?
I guess you can follow the same recipe but you may have to make little changes according to the cooking time of chicken. Perhaps chicken should be cooked separately and added along with rice.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Ok, thank you so much for your tips! ☺?
Hi Megala !! Excellent read and recipe. Didn’t know jackfruit was a great substitute !! Have never worked with jackfruit (confession)… Will surely try this recipe… Will the fruit become rubbery if overcooked ?
I think it is just chewy not rubbery. Anyways I will try once again and let you know. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
Innovative as usual megala. We use raw jackfruit in gravies and as a poriyal but in biryani hearing first time and it looks awesome.
Oh, please do try this biryani and I would love to hear from you how you like it as a non-vegetarian. Thanks.
Sure dear will try
Wow!! Very innovative..
Thank you.
This looks delicious ? I have to look out for jackfruit. Ive only seem it canned. I’ve had in a pulled pork replacement and it was much better texture for me then soy meat.
Thanks so much !
Great recipe Megala and u have presented your post so well. Very informative and thanks for the beautiful share. Will try the biryani at home
Thanks, and please let me know how you like it ! 🙂
Yes absolutely will tell u once I make it. Welcome dear
Megala, you truly share so many interesting recipes. This one is no different… 🙂
You are so kind, thanks much ! 🙂
What an interesting post. I’d never have thought of jackfruit as a substitute. But that’s great that you’ve made such a wonderful discovery. Tasted jackfruit for the first time at my grandmother’s home in Goa many many years ago. Just loved it. Reading the ingredients in this biryani recipe, I’m sure I wouldn’t miss the meat 🙂
I wish you could get a chance to taste jackfruit once again after several years. Indeed you wont miss your meat anymore. 🙂 Thanks so much.
Good to learn about jackfruit as a meat replacement!
Thank you.
I’ve always wanted to make biryani with raw jackfruit, but never got around to it. Thank you for this awesome recipe! Will surely try it out some time. 🙂
It is so nice of you! 🙂 By the way, may I know whether you are a vegetarian?
Yes, I’m a vegetarian.
Then you should try this ! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Never thought jackfruit can be used in biryani. Then jackfruit as vegetable taste great but i never knew it can be used as meat
Yes, I did feel the same way. We have been using crumbled jackfruit for quite a long time but never felt like that. Only when the large pieces of this vegetable are used, you would feel like meat pieces. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I had no idea that raw jackfruit was considered a perfect substitute for meat. I’ve not eaten meat for nearly a year now, and I find the alternatives out there, very up and down. Meaning, some are good, and others are terrible. I’ve looked online and I can buy raw jackfruit at my supermarket. This recipe of yours looks devine, and I definitely want to make! 🙂
I’m sure you would like jackfruit as a substitute for meat. Thanks s o much.
I do eat meat but also love raw jackfruit so will try your version of biryani too Megala!
Thank you.
Who could say no to a good biryani. Yumm
Yes, it is such a delightful treat. 🙂 Thank you.
Whoe! Raw jackfruit instead of meat, that is simply amazing. I am a vegetarian too but an idea to substitute meat with the meat of a veggie is one that has never struck. Great idea, Megala.
Hi, how are you? I didn’t hear from you quite sometime.
Hope you would like to try this biryani and please do let me know how you like it as a vegetarian. 🙂
Thank you.
Sounds delicious! ??
Thanks. 🙂
such a beautiful recipe will love to try it
thanks for sharing such great recipe
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Nice share
Thanks.
I wish we had Jackfruit you make it sound so good!
I think it would be really exciting if you grow this tree in your garden. 🙂 Thanks Diane.
I have cooked with jackfruit and it is an amazing substitute for meat I was really surprised…You do need to be careful when cutting the jackfruit because of the latex it produces when cut 🙂 I wi;ll have to try the biryani 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your personal account on jackfruit as a substitute for meat. I hope you would like this biryani too. 🙂
I am sure I will, Megala …I have seen a few posts on Jackfruit lately and am reposting mine tomorrow on Fruity Fridays as it is not an easy fruit to cut when green because of the latex it can get messy…lol
Oh, nice. I’m looking forward to find your take on jackfruit. 🙂
Pulished today Megla I hope you enjoy 🙂 x
Great alternative to the usual biryani.
Yes, indeed. Thanks Tracey !
Hi I have nominated you for The Sunshine Blogger Award @ https://wp.me/p93zQi-ie
Thank you so much !
Good luck
Amazing biriyani recipe for vegetarians!! This biriyani is popular in Andhra too. We also prepare the same way. Curry with jack husk(Panasa pottu) n jack fruit biriyani common during any auspicious occasion. Thanks for posting a lovely recipe!!
This is really interesting, I would love to find the recipe for jackfruit husk curry in your blog sometime soon. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing your personal account on jackfruit traditions.
You’re most welcome!!! Definitely will post the recipe soon!! Thank you!!
Awesome! Faux in your title really caught my eye. I love biryani but I don’t eat mutton…now I know how to please myself :). Once again thanks for such an informative post.
I’m so glad that my post caught your attention. Thanks a lot.
This is simply inspired! I love the fact that you used jackfruit for the “meat” here. I’ve never seen that done in biryani before but I will definitely try it now.
Thanks much.
Interesting recipe. I never knew that we could use jackfruit in the biryani. Will try it soon!
Thanks, Swalia.
Wow, amazing, Megala. I love Biryani and this is a wonderful new way to prepare it.
Thanks so much, Luda ! 🙂
Best choice for vegetarian ?
Is jack fruit chewy after cooking?
Yes, it is chewy. 🙂
mmm… mouthwatering. I should try this.
Thank you. 🙂
Only one word, Yummy!
Thanks. 🙂
Amazing! Biryani is my favourite and I’ve been trying to eat less meat. Can’t wait to try this out!
Nice to hear this, thank you.
I love jackfruit and will definitely try this recipe.
Thank you !
This is a great recipe Megala and am sure it is very flavorful and delicious as well! Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea of substituting jackfruit for meat.
Welcome, Nisha !
I had no idea jackfruit could be a substitute.
Oh, thanks !
This is AWESOME! Loved it!❤
Thank you.
Thank you Megala. Being a fan and promoter of anything Jackfruit, I am particularly happy to see this
Thank you !
We don’t have Jackfruit here but a friend of mine just moved to Australia, and they have it. She is a chef, and has been eating/cooking vegan food since she arrived there. She said it is just like meat, and as a matter of fact one of her dishes that always sells out is pulled bbq jackfruit. It’s a variation of pulled pork bbq that is very popular here. She said you can’t tell the difference at all. And like you said here, it has much more health benefits than the meat. Oh, I couldn’t find that melon but I will not give up searching 🙂 Thank you Megala for sharing your recipe 🙂
Hi Margaret, sorry for the late reply, just now fetched it from my spam folder!
Thanks a bunch for sharing your chef friend’s experience with jackfruit as the best substitute for meat.
And please don’t bother about the melon, it will just fall into your lap someday. 🙂 Have a great weekend !
You are most welcome and you read my mind about the melon :):) and thank you for rescuing me from the spam folder :):)
Ahhh ! It is always my pleasure, dear friend. 🙂
Interesting recipe Megala. Didnt know jackfruit could be a meat substitute.Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome ! 🙂 Hope you would like to try this.
It’s amazing, couple of months ago I read an article somewhere that now companies are trying to introduce jackfruit as a substitute for meat in vegetarian dishes. I didn’t believe it. You have made it.
For me the only problem is we only get either canned or frozen raw jackfruit where the frozen one is half ripe most of the time and I end up throwing it. Can slightly ripe (meaning very slightly sweet and yellowish) be used in any cooking? The canned ones are non-flavorful at all – bummer.
Hey, you can very well use semi-ripe canned jackfruits, or even the ones with no flavor on its own. Biryani masala will take care of the flavors, here we just need to get the right texture, so no worries! 🙂 Please do try and let me know how it turned out for you. Thank you !